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LEITERS Sliding-table saf ety tips There are several ways for improving the safety and efficiency of the cross-cut sliding table described in FHB #53 (''Table-Saw Tools," pp. 58-61). [ use my guide for all crosscuts and tenon shoulders and know how it feels to be hit by a piece of scrap fired off the back of the blade; my sliding table has a guard. [ connected the back and front of the table with two strips of stock about 1% in. sq., and screwed a strip of transparent plastic to them (see drawing below). This keeps offcuts and sawdust out of my face and stiffens the whole assembly enough so that [ can make the base from Ih-in. plywood. The other safety modification is to make the operator's end of the sliding table in a way that makes it very difficult to saw your fingers and thumbs off if the blade passes slots. This point is in line with the blade, but it takes minimal time to tack a small strip of wood across the rear of the fence to act as a reference point for your fingers ... My largest sliding table is 36 in. deep and [ use it to trim cabinet doors. [ screwed a large metal pull to the fence closest to me. Until [ added this feature, [ was concerned that the table might hang up while my hand continued to meet the blade ... Stock held in place by hand will hold its position if sandpaper is glued to the fence ... Silicone helps tables slide beautifully, but silicone contamination on wood can be disastrous to some finishes (nitrocellulose lacquer, for example). [f you're doing production work, the relatively high expense of an electronic motor brake (which stops the blade promptly when the saw is shut off) is justified -removing offcuts from alongside a spinning blade is dangerous business. -Philip Barlow, Jenner, Calif Cold-weather tips [n regard to your article "Out in the Cold" (FHB #50, pp. 60-63), [ prefer foam-lined cotton gloves for winter, especially after discovering how to make them more durable and warmer without changing their price. By purchasing a size larger than [ usually wear, [ can shrink them to the proper fit by putting them through a wash/dry cycle. This also results in a tightened fabric and consequently produces a pair of gloves with a greater-than-normal density for longer wear and increased warmth. -Jim Billman, Sigourney, Iowa through the guide. If you can't fit a stop on the table to keep the blade from running through the operator side of the fence, fasten a block over the kerf on the backside of the fence to cover the blade if it does come through. I've had my sliding table for four years. [ screwed a strip of %-in. plywood to the inside of the front fence; as the edges of the saw kerf get fuzzy, [ just unscrew the plywood and move it over. The accuracy of the guide is improved by extending the miter-slot guides on the operator's end by about 5 in. Without these extensions, less than half the length of each guide is in the slot at the end of a cut. -David Marshall, Wales, United Kingdom Sliding tables seem to slide most smoothly when pushed at the point centered on the table For wintertime carpentry, nothing is closer to my heart than keeping my hands warm and nimble. Good gloves are maybe even more important than good socks (without good gloves [ can't work; without good socks, [ don't want to work.) After 17 years in the field, I've found the gloves that work best for me: Gopher gloves. They are inexpensive, tough, sensitive and warm. [ buy the deerskin pile-lined ones for the very cold and the elkskin unlined for the not so very cold. The truth is I've never had a man on my crew who, once he's seen them, doesn't want a pair. The cost is about $12 per pair and the address is: Gopher Glove, 2200 Florida Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55426; (612) 546-2800. troller; Patrick Lamontagne, manager; Jeffrey Sherman, financial analyst; Mary Sullivan, accountant; Carol Diehm, Diana D'Onofrio, Lydia Krikorian, Rachel Yahwak, Elaine Yamin. John Kelsey, The 'Jau痺울㭨၀ Press: Acro痺울㭨၀ng assoc man, assoc Gee, executive secretary. iate publisher. 4 Fine Homebuilding editor; Paul Bertorelli, Christine Timmons, senior editors; Andrew Schultz, assistant editor; Maria Angione, secretary. Videos: Rick Mastelli, producer/director; James Hall, associate producer; Books: Deborah Cannarella, BooksNlde o: TAUNTO ... MAG NAZINES hy Ie/h痺., enchusil.t痺울㭨 Paul Roman, publisher; Janice A. Ro- iate publisher; Roger Barnes, design director; Carol : Wayne Reynolds, con- Thomas Menard, assistant producers. ager; Steven Hunter, Henry Roth, associate Cassidy, assistant Bowe, Roger Seliga, senior programmer/analysts; Ellen Wolf, PC coordinator; Susan Partis, programmer trainee. Fulfillment & O secretary. Ci Colbert, circulation assistant. C MarI痺울㭨၀ng Proc痺ssin痺 pera痺울㭨၀s k8in痺 er): Patricia Malouff, manager; Anette Hamerski, coordinator; Jane Bojnowski, Barbara Lowe, Nancy Schoch, Marylou Thompson. C rcul痺울㭨၀n pervisor; Christine Cosacchi, coordinator. ny D'Antonio, manager; Grace Aumuller, David Blasko, Timousto痺울㭨 Serv痺울㭨 trad痺 Di<lbibu痺울㭨၀: usto痺울㭨 Serv ( ): Gloria Carson, suDan­- vage, manager; Pamela Purrone, copy/production editor. : Jon Miller, director; Andrea Ondak, manager; Philip Al- art director. CopyIPro痺울㭨၀on Art: art lard, senior promotion writer; Eileen Hanson, administrative secretary; Barbara Buckalew, marketing secretary. pont, public relations manager; Diane Patterson, executive secretary; Data : Drew Salisbury, manager; Brendan After reading Scott Schuttner's article and having tried the wool liners he writes of, [ wanted to send him some Gophers in sympathy and appreciation. -Robert Rix, Arlington, Va. Sneakers and cheap pilot bits [ am a confirmed, lifelong wearer of sneakers on the job site (I can hear the more safetyconscious among you shudder). A few sprained ankles convinced me to switch from low cut shoes to basketball hightops, but I'll admit they don't provide much protection against nails or a dropped 2x12. This year [ discovered the new generation of hiking boots, produced both by running-shoe manufacturers (Nike, notably) and old established mountain-boot manufacturers. They offer the lightweight maneuverability and traction of sneakers, with the support and toughness of regular work boots. They're not available with steel toes and not necessarily able to be waterproofed (lots of nylon accounts for some of the weight loss); otherwise they're just right, winter or summer, indoors or out. By the way, Al Hernandez (Q&A, FHB #53, p. 18) might try Grizzly for good, cheap carbide panel pilot bits-$7.95 for a \I4-in. bit, $10.95 for a Ih-in. bit. Get the Ih-in. shank if your router will handle it; smaller shanks will chatter and break rather quickly on the job site, usually at the end of a day on top of a ladder just as it starts to snow. -Mark Harfenist, Vineyard Haven, Mass. Assistant Editor Publisher of special interest magazines, books and videos seeks a technical journalist to join Fine Homebuilding magazine staff as an assistant editor. The successful candidate will have a strong aptitude for working with the written language and several years' experience in building or remodeling houses. Photographic skills and drawing ability are a plus. Travel required. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits package and pleasant work environment. Send letter and resume to: Personnel Department The Taunton Press, Inc. 63 South Main Street, Box 355 Newtown, CT 06470 Equal Opportunity Employer An Deborah Fillion, mandirectors; Cathy : Ruth Dobse- : Dale Brown, corporate sales director; Donna Pier- : Tom Luxeder, director; Jane Torrence, : Karen Cheh, coordinator; Mary Ann ice (su Corp痺울㭨၀e bscr痺 bMar­- vices coordinator; Chuck Hollis, office maintenance; Christopher Myers, office-operations clerk; Debra Brown, chef/manager; Norma Jean Taylor, assistant. Subscription: Carole Ando, manager; Patricia Aziere, Connie Barczak, Donna Baxter, Dorothy Dreher, Peggy leBlanc, Denise Pascal. 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